While in Springfield, we went to visit a friend of Grandma Joyce and Aunt Cheryl's. Her name is Marilyn and she has lots of beautiful horses and a donkey, born on 9/11/01 names Freedom. The girls had a great time.

my first new car..headed to Springfield

 

 

 

 

I got my first new car last Friday. James and I bought a Ford Taurus X. It is a crossover SUV that is much more reliable and better gas milege than my old Expedition. We picked up the girls this morning and headed to Springfield to visit Grandma Joyce, and to help her prepare her house for winter..(they prepared, I socialized.)

Halloween....

better late than never

Jamie took pictures last week at James' 30th birthday dinner. Tonight, she emailed them to me, so I am passing them on. James wasn't too excited about his birthday, but we had a nice dinner anyway.

sleepover

 

 

 

 

We had a great slumber party on Sunday night. Not much slumber, but a great party anyway! I pinch hitted as the "spa operator" on Monday afternoon. I gave pedicures, assisted with manicures, and with makeovers. The girls (and one boy) REALLY liked the foot bath. Most of the girls loved the foot massage with lotion that went along with it, except for a ticklish girl or two!

Slow Fade

here is a link to another song by "Casting Crowns" that is in the movie Fireproof

Slow Fade
One of the songs featured in the movie is Slow Fade by Casting Crowns.

Taken from the album 'The Altar and the Door' the song warns how relationships aren't destroyed overnight, it's a slow process:

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands
As darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
Slow Fade by Casting Crowns

One of the songs from "Fireproof"

click here for a great video of this song using clips from the movie on youtube
Love is Not a Fight
'Love is not a fight' by Warren Barfield is another of the featured songs in Fireproof. It is a beautiful song that drives home the true meaning and commitment of real love:

Love is not a place
To come and go as we please
It's a house we enter in
And then commit to never leave

So lock the door behind you
Throw away the key
We'll work it out together
Let it bring us to our knees

Love is a shelter
In a raging storm
Love is peace
In the middle of a war
And if we try to leave
May God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight
But it's something worth fighting for

To some love is a word
That they can fall into.
But when they're falling out
Keeping their word is hard to do

Love is a shelter
In a raging storm
Love is peace
In the middle of a war
And if we try to leave
May God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight
But it's something worth fighting for

Love will come to save us
If we'll only call
He will ask nothing from us
But demand we give our all

Love is a shelter
In a raging storm
Love is peace
In the middle of a war
And if we try to leave
May God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight
But it's something worth fighting for

I will fight for you
Would you fight for me?
It's worth fighting for

Tuesday night.

I had a great date night with my husband. I accidentally forgot my phone at home, and as soon as I got over the panic of not having one of my main addictions, we had a great time. We saw an early showing of "Fireproof." and I was pleasantly surprised. It is amazing that I have become so desensitized to the completely humanistic views that Hollywood portrays, even in very good films. These things were all missing in this movie, even though I looked for them. The first few minutes were filled with unrealisted dialogue that sounded cheesy. However, after awhile, either I got used to it, or the acting/dialogue improved. The movie turned out to be excellent. The movie has given me some very real emotional moments, however. No, mom, it doesn't have anything to do with James' chosen profession, he's a great person no matter what his job! It came from the level of importance God places on marriage. Most of you know that I am married for the second time. This doesn't mean that I take marriage lightly, quite the contrary. James and I had a very open discussion about what we thought about the movie, and "The Love Dare," that the movie "presribed" for the sick marriage.

I digress..however...I never ever ever wanted to be divorced. I believe in the sanctity of marriage, and I believe that marriage is a covenant. The couple in the movie were given a wonderful opportunity to have their marriage changed, and their lives changed, for the better and for God's glory. I told James that I thought that the movie had a great message, but that I felt that I did everything I could, but my marriage still ended. I have waited a few days to finish this post, because I wasn't sure how much I wanted to share about my feelings on this subject, but it was truly hard to watch the two people, seperately but in response to each other and to God, put down their offense toward each other, and end up with their "happily ever after." This Hollywood ending didn't happen in my life. Some my say that I have my "happily ever after" because I am remarried now to a man that shows me how much he loves me every day, and with whom I am completely in love. But just as a newborn, as much as you love them, can't take the place of a lost child, a happy marriage can't take away the pain of one that was lost.

Anyway, I loved the movie. James went to Walmart yesterday morning while the girls and I were doing school. I saw "The Love Dare" in one of the sacks and commented on him buying it. He said, I bought three. He has a few men in his life that he felt could benefit from it, and he bought them a copy. I was so blessed and touched by this. My husband has only had this role for the past 3 months, and he had no real role model for the kind of husband God wants men to be. However, he somehow manages to EVERYDAY, be exactly what I need in my life.

Fireproof

 

click here to go the website and see the trailer for the movie. James and I are planning to see this movie next week. I am looking forward to seeing this, because, well..lets see...

The star is one of my middle school crushes, Kirk Cameron. Brittany had a great poster of him in her room. We never knew he would grow up to be a good Christian man back in his "Growing Pains" days.

Second, I think that movies with a positive spin on how hard work marriage is are a good thing. From everything I have read, this is a terrific movie about marriage Gods way..even after it has totally been messed up by us.

Third..I do kinda have a thing for firemen!

Actually, I am a sucker for really well done movies. I like action, thrillers, drama, comedy, romance, but I really like well done, well acted, well written movies. My only concern is that this movie could lack some of those qualities that constitute a "really good movie" for me. I will be coming back after I watch it to leave a "review." I remember when I watched "Facing the Giants." It had a great message, but the acting was a bit..hokie?? for lack of a better word.. so we will see, but I bet I like it..if only for the reason above!

waa, I miss summer!

..oh well, at least it isn't cold yet! I think fall is very pretty, and I do love the colors, but I just love the summer! Motorcycle rides, days at the pool, shorts and tee shirts, and the smell of sunscreen.. Best of all, are tan lines of adorable children.. here is one of my favorite pics that showed where we hung out this summer, and a few of those adorable children!

 

 

Granddad Steve came by today, I was doing him a little favor, and then he took the girls to lunch and out to run errands. School got started a bit late, but that is fine, there is always time for grandparents!

 

 

 

 

kids and dogs continued. You would never know that Jackson hadn't lived with kids his whole life. He tolerated the girls laying all over him. Now if only Ella would always tolerate Jackson...

fun with Paige, Peyton, Ella and Jackson

 

 

 

 

our dogs and kids, thankfully, have a terrific relationship. The girls often have the responsibility of feeding, watering and letting the dogs outside. They also love to play with them and show them lots of love. Jackson has just lived with us for three months, but I already can't imagine not having him with us (of course, I could do without all the fur that he sheds!)

End of the summer series..part 1

 

This is one of my favorite pictures of the summer. These four girls have such a good time together, and just love spending time with one another. Brittany got this shot at the end of the summer "County Fair" at the FARM.

my mom...and a motorcycle??

 

 

 

 

James bought the girls a pink motorcycle helmet yesterday, so today they each got a ride. I routinely give my mom a ride home from church on Wednesday nights, so tonight, she decided to hitch a ride on James's motorcycle.